Providing perspective on the economics and politics of sports business in Florida...and the Rays' campaign for a new stadium in Tampa Bay.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

The 2019, 2020, and 2021 Super Bowls Go To...

UPDATE: Super Bowl LIII (2019) goes to Atlanta, with Super Bowl LIV (2020) going to Miami, and Super Bowl V (2021) going to Los Angeles. Tampa appears next in-line for the 2022 game, but that depends on a 2018 or 2019 owners vote...and how many other teams may build new digs by then.

I agree with some of the claims from the good folks behind Tampa's bid, since Super Bowls do net "heads in beds" and lure tourists to town for a week in February. But it's also not all that hard to lure people to Tampa in February; so does the game really bring hundreds of millions of dollars to town? Of course not.

Super Bowls are publicly-supported events where the amount of tax dollars paying for them are anything but public. We learned in 2014 that the NFL's secret demands range from significant to outrageous, and cities like Tampa, who are perceived to be underdogs in the 2019/2020 bidding, are more likely to make even more ludicrous concessions in their attempts to land a game.

I'll update this post later on today when we find out which cities "win" the bids.

Here is a good estimate of the extortion from the NFL that Tampa will not have to endure:see http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24584008/nfl-super-bowl-host-city-bid-specifications-and-requirements-leaked

NFL controls "100 percent of the revenues from all ticket sales" including "ticket sales in all suites" and the NFL "must have exclusive access to all club seats"NFL requires a "climate-controlled domed stadium" if average temperature for that region falls below 50 degrees"Postgame removal of the field shall be of no cost to the NFL" unless it wants to remove parts of the field "for the sale of licensed products""Exclusive, cost-free use of 35,000" parking spaces for gameday parkingThe NFL has the "option to install ATMs that accept NFL preferred credit/debit cards in exchange for cash" and to cover up other ATMs.Team hotels must agree to televise the NFL Network for one year leading up to the Super BowlIf cellular service is too weak at the team hotels (based on the "sole discretion of the NFL"), the Host Committee must install boosters and/or cell antennas."Local enforcement officers will be provided to the NFL" for anti-counterfeit enforcement teams "at not cost to the NFL."Full tax exemption from city, state and local taxes for tickets sold to the Super Bowl (and also the NFL Experience, the NFL Honors show and "other NFL Official Events")."The NFL shall receive priority over all other ice and snow removal projects, except those that directly threaten life or public safety."Tons of advertising for the NFL Experience: 1,500 ratings points on TV stations, 20 pages of color ads in local newspapers and a 12-page fan guide inserted twice, 250 live or pre-recorded radio spots on six local stations and 10 billboards.Under "additional facilities" the NFL requires the usage of three golf courses and two bowling lanes: